There Is No Spoon
Why are we so drawn to mythological stories in movies and books? Can we find meaning in myths — and is it even there? Where should we look for the meaning of life, the universe, and everything in between? Why are ancient stories still so relevant to modern life? And how do we navigate life's crises and come out transformed?
In this podcast, we explore these big questions and more at the crossroads of psychology, philosophy, cultural studies, and science. Join us as we dive deep into timeless stories and timeless truths to uncover insights for today's world.
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14. Alchemy of midlife passage: death, rebirth, and a new myth
In this episode, we return to the themes we’ve been exploring throughout the previous thirteen conversations — the midlife passage and what it asks of us. We revisit key ideas from earlier episodes and take a step further by using the symbolic language of alchemy to understand what is happening within us during this profound life transition. As Jung suggested, alchemy offers a powerful metaphor for inner transformation — one that helps illuminate the psychological processes at work when our old identity begins to dissolve and something new, yet unknown, starts to emerge.Sources of quotes in this episode:Carl Jung, Letters, Vol. 1, p. 483Carl Jung, Collected Works (CW 17, §308)James Hollis, The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in MidlifeZen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings